Carton structure



Nov. 6, 1962 M. E. HOLY 3,062,367

CARTON STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 2, 195s 3,062,367 Patented Nov. 6, 1962 3,062,367 CARTON STRUCTURE Mitchel E. Holy, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Cooper Carton Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 2, 1958, Ser. No. 777,686 2 Claims. (Cl. 206--45.31)

This invention relates to a carton structure, and more particularly to a foldable carton which is especially useful in connection with the packaging and display of relatively light weight, small or irregularly-shaped articles such as Sponges, scouring pads, and glass, plastic or metal containers or objects etc.

In packaging articles of such type, it is desirable to provide a carton structure which is equipped with a window in which, or behind which, an article can be placed for display purposes to enable the purchaser to visually inspect the article at the time of purchase. Further, the cartons are disposable, and consequently must be inexpensive, convenient for inserting and removing articles therefrom, and should be foldable or collapsible so that large numbers thereof can be cornpactly shipped and stored. Also the carton should be structurally rugged to support the article in its display position and if any display card is attached thereto, the carton should be strong enough to support the card in proper position to be viewed under all encountered conditions.

Additionally, it may be noted that in connection with the inserti-on `of articles into the cartons, it is desirable to employ over-size cartons which hold or maintain the articles in centered relation with respect to the viewing window thereof and to provide a broad base for support of -other display material.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a low cost package structure, which not only saves in material used but also is structurally stronger for any given weight or type `of paper board than are conventional boxes.

The invention is also characterized by an easily handled end closure which enables high speed machine folding in which side flaps or folds are eliminated and the two interengaging closure aps may be brought into position with either one moved first and will end with an interlock which not only strengthens the box form but prevents opening until pressed inwardly again.

The invention is also characterized by a novel end closure construction in which there are no fold lines to be made in the closure iiaps and the squaring of the main portion places the iiaps in position for closure with the cartons disposed with either side forward.

An object of the present invention is also to provide a carton that satisfies the characteristics desired for such cartons which have been set forth.

Another object of the invention is in the provision of a window-equipped carton structure having improved means for automatically centering articles therein as part of the carton closing operation.

Still another object is that of providing a `foldable or collapsible carton formed of paper-board or the like, which uses a minimum of material and which has end closures that snap into place and serve to maintain the carton squared in its box-like configuration, and also serve to center the article and cushion the same during shipment.

A further object is to provide a carton of the character described having end closures, each of which comprises two flaps that have a composite dimension substantially greater than the end opening to be closed thereby, and have interlocking tabs that engage each o-ther when the flaps are folded into the interior of the carton to maintain the same therein. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the speciiication develops.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cut and scored blank from which a carton embodying the present invention can be formed;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carton in the shape or position of use thereof;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal, longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 4; and

FiG. 4 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view taken along the line I4 4 of FIG. 3.

The blank illustrated in FIG. 1 is scored along the various edges thereof so as to define a bottom 10, a top 11 provided with a viewing window 12 therein, side walls 13 and 14, an adhesive-coated securing or anchor lip 15, and end iiaps 16-17 and 1\819. The flaps 16 and 17 are respectively equipped with centrally disposed, outwardly projecting tongues 20 and 21, and the flaps 18 and 19 are respectively provided with grooves or recesses 22 and 23 adapted to seat the tongues therein.

The tongued flaps 16 and 17 are hingedly or foldably connected with the bottom 10 along the respective lines 24 and 25; and similarly, the grooved flaps 18 and 19 are foldably connected to the top 11 along the lines 26 and 27. It will be evident that the side wall 13 is foldable relative to the bottom 10 and top 11 along the lines 28 and 29, while the side wall 14 is foldable along line 30, and lip 15 folds with respect to the bottom 10 along line 31. The blank may be cut from pressed paper or cardboard or any other suitable material. Similarly, various adhesives may be used along the lip 15, and the precise character thereof may be related to the carton material. In the specific illustration, a pressuresensitive adhesive is employed.

In assembling the carton, the bottom, side and top walls are folded relative to each other so as to define a generally rectangular prism, and the lip 15 is then folded along the outer surface of the side wall 14 and is bonded thereto. After such folding operation, the carton can be collapsed-that is, pivoted along the lines 28 through 31 to bring the top 11 into planar juxtaposition with the bottom 10. `In this condition, the carton can be compactly stored and shipped.

To use the carton in a packaging operation, it is restored to its general prismatic form and the flaps at one end of the carton folded inwardly as shown in FIGS. 2 through 4 to maintain the shape thereof. For example, the flaps 16 and 18 may be so folded inwardly, and preferably the grooved Hap 18 is placed beneath flap 16 for then the tongue 20 quite readily snaps into the groove 22 therefor. However, it is not essential that the flaps be folded in such manner, `but it is somewhat more convenient to do so.

The carton now defines a compartment or space 32 adapted to receive an article such as is indicated diagrammatically by the circular line 33 in FIG. 3. After the article 33 is inserted therein, Ithe end aps 17 and 19 may be closed in the manner of the flaps 16 and 18. To remove the article 33, either the flaps 16 and 18 or 17 and 19 may be unfolded by releasing the appropriate tongue from the groove therefor, although ordinarily the consumer will destroy Ithe carton when removing the article therefrom.

It will be noted especially in FIG. 4 that the interlocked flaps at each end of the carton project inwardly into the compartment 32 thereof, and in so doing substantially align any article therein with respect to the viewing window 12 and thereafter maintain such centered relation. Further, the tongues 20 and 21 project beyond the plane of the respective flaps 18 and 19, and are angularly disposed with respect thereto. Thus, these tongues provide resilient abutments for an article 33 that constrain the same against longitudinal shifting within the compartment. Similarly, the ears 34 and 3S of the flap 18 and which define the groove 22 thereof, and the ears 36 and 37 of the grooved ilap 19, project beyond the plane of the flaps 16 and 17 and therefore also serve as resilient abutments.

Since the aps 16 and 18 have a composite dimension, that is, the sum of the respective dimensions thereof measured along lines normal to the foldable edges 24 and 26, is greater than the end opening (that is, the width of the side wail 13 measured between the foldable edges 28 and 29 thereof), the tongue 20 and groove 22 interlock at only one position of the flaps; namely, the position thereof shown most clearly in FIG. 4 wherein both are folded into the interior of the compartment 32. Thereafter, this dimensional relationship maintains the flap interlock within the compartment in the generally triangular configuration most evident in FIG. 4, and if a back board a display panel 38 such as shown in FIG. 2 is attached to a wall, it will be supported by the breadth and weight of the carton with the article therein.

While in the foregoing specification an embodiment of the invention has been set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making an adequate disclosure thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in those details without f departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.

I claim: 1. In a rectangular carton of relatively stiff cardboard defining a substantially enclosed compartment therein and having an open end providing access to such compartment, a pair of end flaps constituting the sole means for closing such open end, said flaps being foldably connected respectively to said carton along parallel edges defining in part the open end thereof and having a cornposite dimension substantially greater than the dimension of said opening between said parallel edges, one of said flaps `being equipped with a notch intermediate the ends of its edge and the other thereof with a tongue intermediate .the ends of its edge snugly received within said notch along a straight line of mutual support when the aps are folded and inverted into the interior of the aforesaid compartment to form an outwardly presenting obtuse angle therebetween, said flaps in operative posi tion being biased outwardly to maintain them in interlocked position, the ends of said flaps engaging the sides of said box whereby the interlock defined by said tongue and notch in conjunction with the aforementioned composite `dimension and angle of said flaps maintains the same in such folded position within the compartment and the box in erected condition.

2. The carton called for in claim l in which an open viewing window is provided in a side wall of the carton behind which the contents of the compartment are resiliently hel-d in place by the inner edge portions of the laps.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,598,050 Guyer May 27, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 64,042 France May 11, 1955 (Addition t0 No. 1,067,305) 

